State of the Air: MONTANA

Michelle lives in Livingston, Montana, and works as an activist, mother and an environmental attorney. She grew up in Mount Rainier National Park where she learned that children should be allowed limitless opportunities to wander aimlessly in the woods. She believes in the immense power of mothers to positively influence our political systems.

Melissa lives in Livingston, Montana with her husband and two daughters. She also serves her community as a Livingston City Commissioner. Formerly living in a community designated as a Superfund Site compels her to work for environmental justice for all families to be able to live free from hazardous pollution and a changing climate. She believes we all have a right to clean air, water, and soil, and that no one should have to experience fears that their backyard is an unsafe place to play.

Highlight of the Month:

Montana Mom, Michelle Uberuaga, has been working in her community to prevent two proposed gold mines on the border of Yellowstone National Park. On Monday, October 8th, 2018, after more than three years of work, Secretary Ryan Zinke signed a 20-year mineral withdrawal preventing mining on more than 30,000 acres of public lands in two different mining districts.

Michelle has been working tirelessly to organize her community through the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition, a group of more than 400 local businesses opposing the mines. She had the honor of delivering comments at Zinke’s signing of the Public Land Order on October 8. Michelle stood alongside business members, republicans and democrats, and invited up Supermom Erica Lighthiser’s children to stand beside her and the others.

The event made national news and was an important step for the community on the border of Yellowstone National Park, demonstrating that we can accomplish big things when we unite at the local level. Michelle has built powerful connections with Secretary Zinke’s office as a result of this work and is well-suited to leverage these relationships to reach other goals.

Learn more about our work in Montana below.

Here’s what we’re working on in Montana:

Moms Clean Air Force started organizing in Montana in July 2015. Field organizer, Michelle Uberuaga has built relationships with the Federal delegation–participating in multiple meetings throughout summer 2015 with Senator Tester and Senator Daines and their staff. Moms Clean Air Force Montana has also built a relationship with Governor Bullock’s office. In Montana, we bring attention to issues and policies that impact clean air, climate change and children’s health. We fight for a world free of harmful chemicals in our air, water and food, so children can grow up healthy with every opportunity to thrive. We educate and activate moms and their families to work with local, state and federal leaders to advance clean air policies and climate solutions. We are building a community of moms who care by meeting with elected officials, organizing and attending local events, speaking at community meetings and press conferences, and serving as a media resource on behalf of our children’s and community’s health. By collectively speaking out against air pollution and climate change, we are creating a powerful force in Montana that is rooted in the love we have for our children.

Montana is a major coal producing state that prizes its rural character and pristine natural resources. Our coal industry is intertwined with the economy and transport routes of the entire Pacific Northwest region, as well as contributing to local and regional air pollution.

America’s Clean Power Plan will limit the pollution causing climate change – and will have a large impact on the state of Montana. Because Montana has done little to nothing thus far to limit carbon emissions, EPA has set an aggressive standard for our state to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, making it one of the highest emissions reduction targets in the Clean Power Plan.

Faced with this challenge, Montana is showing leadership in finding solutions and has affirmed that it will submit a state plan detailing its strategy to meet the emissions reduction goals. Our Montana chapter promotes strategies to cut carbon emissions in a way that protects both children’s health and the economy. We also work to ensure that coal mining, coal transport, and coal burning is well-regulated, to protect our children and families, and to preserve our open lands and agricultural heritage.

America’s Clean Power Plan

America’s Clean Power Plan is an essential tool in addressing climate change and a step forward in protecting our children’s health. The Environmental Protection Agency released the Clean Power Plan in July 2015. Moms Clean Air Force joined a coalition of allies, including American Lung Association, Climate Smart Missoula, Montana Conservation Voters and more, to help organize support for the Clean Power Plan in Montana and to educate Montanans about the potential health benefits of the plan. Moms Clean Air Force has participated in meetings with Governor Steve Bullock, Attorney General Tim Fox, Senator Jon Tester, Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke to discuss America’s Clean Power Plan and to urge them to support setting carbon emission limitations in Montana. On June 21, 2016, Governor Bullock announced a clean energy plan for Montana, setting Montana on course for America’s Clean Power Plan compliance. Governor Bullock committed to this plan and was pushed forward by the hard work of Montana Moms demonstrating the demand for clean air in the state. In Montana, we are fighting the Trump Administration’s attempt to repeal America’s Clean Power Plan.

Methane

Moms Clean Air Force is working to reduce methane emissions from existing fracking operations. Moms sent a “supermom,” from Livingston, Montana, Erica Lighthiser, to Washington, D.C., November 3-5, 2015, to urge our decision makers to work with President Obama’s administration to prevent methane leaks. Moms is also tabling and gathering signatures to send to the EPA in support of strict methane limitations.

Moms Clean Air Force Programs in Montana

Our Moms & Mayors program connects moms with their mayors and local leaders to improve children’s health and build resilient communities. We educate, empower and mobilize Moms in their hometowns to work with their local elected leaders to implement clean air strategies, reduce toxins in the community and take action on climate change. We also train Moms to join boards and commissions and urge them to run for office.

Our Baby Power program educates and engages expectant and new moms on our issues with the message: every baby has the power to make you want to change the world.

In addition to state-specific work, Moms Clean Air Force Montana is supporting national campaigns:

Stopping the Rollbacks of Environmental Protections: We are working hard to oppose the assaults on our bedrock environmental laws by the Trump Administration and the EPA Administrator, including:

Climate Change: We are fighting the Trump Administration’s attempt to repeal America’s Clean Power Plan that sought to reduce carbon emissions, decrease dangerous co-pollutants, and achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.

Smog: We are opposing the Trump Administration’s EPA proposal to weaken national smog standards.

Clean Cars: We are opposing the Trump Administration’s attempt to roll back sensible fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. The current clean car standards would prevent 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution by 2025 and save American families $1.7 trillion in fuel costs.

Mercury: We are opposing the attempt by the Trump Administration to loosen regulations that reduce the harmful mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Chemical Policy Reform: We are fighting to implement the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (2016) that keeps toxic chemicals out of the products we use every day.

Natural Gas Pollution: We are opposing the Trump Administration’s attempt to roll back Federal methane rules for new sources, weakening the limits on the amount of methane pollution that the oil and gas industry is allowed to vent, leak and burn. We are demanding strong protections from methane, volatile organic compounds, and other harmful air pollutants associated with fracking and natural gas development.

EPA Budget: We are fighting to ensure the EPA budget is fully funded, opposing the Trump Administration’s proposal to gut its budget by more than 25%.

Fighting to Make Climate Progress:

Clean Energy: We are working to build support at the local, state and federal level to ensure that our energy future is renewable, clean, and healthy — for the sake of our children’s health.

Tell Your Governor: Take the Lead on Climate Action: With America’s departure from the historic Paris Climate Agreement, the responsibility for climate action now falls on others: States, municipalities, businesses, universities and communities. With the federal government surrendering its chance to lead on climate action, our states must be as aggressive as possible in the effort to thwart global warming and protect the health of our children. Let your governor know that you demand climate action and you need them to take the lead.

Montana’s electricity generation by source, 2017:

Coal (46%)

Hydro (42%)

Wind (8%)

Natural Gas (1%)

Other (4%)

In January 2011, all coal-fired power plants in Montana began using mercury-control technology. According to the Department of Environmental Quality, the State’s rule has resulted in real reductions at all of Montana’s coal plants (770 pounds of mercury were kept out of the air in 2011)

The average carbon reduction nationwide is 30% by 2030. Montana’s proposed target is a carbon emission rate reduction of 21%

As of the end of 2015, Montana held nearly one fourth of the nation‘s demonstrated coal reserve base and as a result was the sixth largest coal producing state

According to the American Lung Association’s 2018 State of the Air Report, Missoula, Montana was tied for 1st for the cleanest US cities for ozone air pollution.

Nearly 6% of Montana children have asthma

Climate change plays a significant role when it comes to Montana air quality due to increased wildfires

According to the American Lung Association’s 2018 State of the Air report, 8 counties in Montana received a score of F for short-term particle air pollution

This wildfire resource is from Climate Signals: Climate change has increased the risk of wildfires through warmer temperatures and drier conditions that lengthen wildfire season, increase the chances of a fire starting, and help a burning fire spread. Warmer and drier conditions also contribute to...

We were excited to host our 5th annual Play-In for Climate Action this week. Hundreds of parents and children from 30 states gathered near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC to call for meaningful action on climate change. This family-friendly protest against the air pollution that...

Our Moms and Mayors Mama Summits are in full swing! We’re hosting Mama Summits in 11 cities, giving Moms across the nation the opportunity to work directly with local officials. Moms & Mayors resources give you the tools you need to work with your community’s...

How does your city stack up when it comes to air pollution? The American Lung Association helps sort it out in their new report: State of the Air 2018. The results are troubling. More than 40% of Americans live in counties where the air is...

In Gillette, Wyoming, Moms testified against repealing America’s Clean Power Plan. Gillette hosted the final EPA public hearing. America’s Clean Power Plan was first proposed under President Obama. At the time, the EPA conducted extensive public outreach and received more than 8 million comments in support...

Upcoming Events

Weekly Friday Clean Air Kids Hike: Most Montana Moms have one thing in common: we love spending time outside with our kids. And we have so much clean air and so much Montana to explore!

Please join Moms Clean Air Force’s Montana Field Manager, Michelle Uberuaga, for our Friday Clean Air Kids hike. Most of our hikes take place in SW Montana, but we’d love an excuse to travel, meet new moms and explore new hiking trails. Contact Michelle at muberuaga@momscleanairforce.org to join a hike or to help organize a hike in your community.

Past Events

October 2018

Livingston moms hosted a kids voting booth with activities at the Annual Halloween Family Fun Fair.

Field organizer, Michelle Uberuaga attended and participated in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s announcement and signing of the Yellowstone Mineral Withdrawal — protecting the public lands in Emigrant Gulch and Crevice Mountain for 20 years. About the ban he said “If I could, I would make it permanent”.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a Supermom letter writing party in Helena.

December 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a panel discussion on public health and the economic impacts of wildfires in Montana. This discussion featured community leaders, health professionals, and moms. Attendees learned about the health and economic impacts of wildfires to our communities and received information on how to prepare for the upcoming fire seasons.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a series of house parties.

November 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Montana co-hosted a film series, including “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power”.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a gathering at a Billings Supermom’s home to engage on issues that are impacting the health of our children.

October 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Montana co-hosted a film series, including “From the Ashes”.

On July 8, 2016, Michelle Uberuaga and a group of Moms and bikes led the Livingston Roundup Parade (attended by 8000 people). The bike brigade followed Governor Steve Bullock.

On July 16, 2016, Michelle Uberuaga hosted the School’s Out Food Drive collection event at the community gardens.

May 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted their first Mama Summit at the Lewis and Clark Caverns.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana members biked across the panhandle of Idaho.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a Mother’s Day Float fishing trip with Montana Mountain Mamas and Montana’s Last Best Outfitters. Attendees included First Lady Lisa Bullock and her three children, and Livingston city council women, Dorel Hoglund and her two daughters. The event was covered by outdoor reporter, Brett French of the Billings Gazette.

April 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a mama hike and meetup.

March 2016

Field Organizer, Michelle Uberuaga hosted a Kids Clean Air Press Conference featuring Governor Bullock, who delivered comments. With over 150 people in attendance, Governor Bullock stated that he will re-instate the Clean Power Plan advisory council if the stay is lifted and in the meantime he is moving forward with a Montana-made clean energy “blueprint.” Citing the Montana constitution he said, “clean air is your right, which makes it my responsibility.”

Moms Clean Air Force Montana hosted a “Ski-in” at Bridger Bowl. 15 moms participated throughout the day and we gathered 50 beautifully decorated hand prints that we will display in the Capitol building in Helena for our Mama Summit.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana met with a Girl Scout troop in Livingston, MT. The discussion revolved around the importance of clean air and government.

Moms Clean Air Force Montana held a series of Valentine making parties to send to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy advocating for limits on methane pollution from the oil & gas industry.